Drying apparatus for plates of metal and other material



. C. WAGNER ET AL Nov. 26, 1929.

DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL Filed Sept. 14, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 26, 1929. c. WAGNER ET AL DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL Filed Sept. 14, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. WAGNER ET AL.

Nov. 26, 1929.

DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL ANDOTHER MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 14, 1925 ullll lllll l lllalIillli-IL l llllllllllllllll ATTORNE Nov. 26, 1929. c. WAGNER E'T 1,736,866

DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL File ept- 14, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 26, 1929. c. WAGNER ET AL 1,736,866

DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES 0F METAL AND own MATERIAL Filed Sep I4, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 x q p m l mulml J .l l l l I I*I'-\ o T}: v: A

Nov. 26, 1929. c. WAGNER ET AL ,8

DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL Filed Sept. 14, 1925' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I Patented Nov 2 6, 392% un tes stares wastecnnnrns wnennn, or'ennnrvvoon, AND nueusr Hermann, or annsnvour, NEW .rnnsna, nssrenonsro onnnnns wnennn LITHO. nrncnrrrnnv' cor/Lenny, Inc, A

CORPORATIQN OF NEW YOREK' DRYING- ALPPARATUS 'FQR PLATES 01E METAL AND QTHEB' MATERIAL Epplication filed September 14, 1925. Serial No. 56,120.

This invention relates to improvements in drying apparatus for plates of metal and other material.-

One of the objects of this invention is to economize the space usually required to mount drying apparatus for the purpose specified.

'Another object of our invent on is to enable' a-relatively large number of coated or and thus to prevent such coating material from flowing or running in one direction over the edges of the plates.

Another object of our invention is to enable wet plates to be'elevated in horizontal position with a wet face uppermost and thereafter; be shifted to descend also in horizontal position with the same face upper- -most whereby drying of the uppermost face may be accomplished during the elevation rvideamounting for plate carriers whichwill and descent of the plates without any danger ofrunning of the coating material in the like of a roller having peripheral attractone direction.

'Still another object of our invention is to Still another object of our inventionconi prises the provision in a plate drying apparatus of vertically-disposed elevating niech anism having ascending and descending platecarrying stretches and the transfer or shifting of a plate from the ascending stretch tothe descending stretch without turning the plate.

Anotherobjec't of the invention is to utilize efiicientmeans in the transfer of such plates which will enable shifting of a'plate by engagement with the bottom surface thereof.

Still another object of our invention comprises the use in the' h ndling of plates and ing means arranged to move or shift a plate upon rotation of the roller.

Still another object of our invention is'the',

use of an electromagnetic means for shifting' the plates laterally frbm ascending to descending carriers.

Still another object of our invention is to provide in an elevating and descending apparatus means at the upper end thereof for engaging a plate holder to maintain the same i in stationary position during the operation of transfer means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically stopping the machine in the event of the fouling movement of a plate and we preferably provide 'electro-magnetic means for accomplishing this result.

Another object of the invention is to enable feeding, delivery and shifting devices'to be arranged in channels within the plateviding channels or spaces therebetweenu Another object of the invention is to probe extremely solid and rigid and will enable carrying of a relatively heavy metal plate with a plate-carrier. having a free end.

With these and other objects in view, the

members and arrangement of parts so combmed as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance'of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one ofits adaptations the species orpreferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of an apparatus- .emhodying our invention showing the outer casing in section;

- Fig. 2 is a section onthe line 2 2. of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking the direction of the arrow -Fi g. 4 is a section on the line 4- of Fig. 3 looking'in the direction of the arrow. and illustrating our preferred form of retaining and shifting device;

. 30 invention comprises the combination of.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3, showing the supporting bracket for the initial shifting and retaining devices;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 illustrating the feeding and delivery devices;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 2 illustrating our improved electro-magnetic plate shifting rollers; I

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 88 of Fig. 7 showing the top of the drying carrier and the shifting device mounted thereat;

Fig; 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8 illustrating a connection between the electric source of supply and the magnetic rollers;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1 showing in section the operating dog and the magnetic means for throwing it out of mesh to stop the'operation of the plate carrler;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electric devices and connections for operating the magnetic rollers and for automatically stopping the operation of the carrier in the event of displacement of a plate; and

Fig. 12 is a view partly in section on the line 1212 of Fig. 6 and partly diagrammatic of the lower drive chains and sprockets.

Referring now to these drawings, which illustrateapreferred embodiment of .our invention, our plate-drying apparatus embodies the following elements:

Oooweyor mechanism A pair of endless conveyor chains C, (3' are mounted toextend vertically, the members of a pair being arranged in horizontallyspaced relationship to each other. Each of said pair of chains C, C are continuous and are mounted at their lower ends on sprockets S, S on a centrally-located shaft 1 supported, as shown, in a pair of spaced oppositelyarranged frame castings F supported by feet 7 resting on the floor. As illustrated, each.

. having arcuate portions at their upper and lower ends and rectilinear vertically-disposed ascending and descending stretches which preferably incline or taper from the lower mounting toward the upper mounting to compensate for any sagging in the lifting or piafirying of their loads as hereinafter speciare mounted upon the, sprockets S, S which are fast upon the centrally-located shaft 1 As illustrated, the lower end of the chains journalled in bearings 1 integrally east in the frame. The opposite ends of the chains are mounted and. guided to pass over the grooved support or track T, T formed in castings 2, 2 adjustably supported on the upper ends of the angle-bars B, B.

openings in plates 3, 3 fastened to the upper ends of the angle-bars B, B, the said castings 2, 2 being clamped to the plates 3, 3'

' stretches the rollers 0 are guided within As illustrated, the castings 2, 2 are-mounted in tracks formed by a fastening trackstrip b to each of the angle bars B, B and applying at the outer side thereof a U-shaped bar 6 having a track portion, spacedfrom the trackstrip 6 to form a groove and contacting'with the rollers atthe side opposite to said strip.

" The plateholders Each ofthese channel bars 7 has mounted thereon a sectional plate holder 8 composed of a plurality of sections 8" spaced from each other to provide plate-handling channels 8". In the embodiment shown, each plate holder comprises four sections 8 each formed of slngle wire bent between its ends to form a Each link of the chain h as an outward extenplate supporting part and passing at their Y inner attaching ends through both flanges of the channel bar. The inner ends have heads 8 riveted at one side of the inner flange and have a bend 8 at the opposite-side of the other 'fiange so as to be firmly supported bysuch These sectional plate carriers channel bars. are thus free at their outer ends and are provided with spacing thimbles 8.

It will be apparent that when plate carriers are thus mounted upon a conveyor chain, they will extend horizontally on the ascending and descending stretches of the chains and that plates to be dried maybe supported in hori zontal position upon such ascending and'descendingstretches thus avoid ng any running of the coating material during such vertical movement. Both the ascending and descending stretches are, as aforesaid, preferably guided in a slightly inclined or conical path so as to compensate for any normal sagging of the plate holders.

The driving mechanism These chains C, G are preferably driven with an intermittent motion for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly specified. As illustrated, a ratchet wheel 9 is fast upon the shaft 1 and is intermittently moved .by a dog or pawl having its free end engaging the teeth of the said ratchet wheel 9 and being, as illustrated, pivoted at 11 at the outer end of an arm 12 pivotally mounted .upon the said shaft 1. The said pivoted arm 12is en gaged at its outer end by a pivoted link 13 of which is in turn pivoted to an operating rod 14 connected to a cam strap 15 operatively mounted upon a grooved cam disc 16 upon a power shaft 17 driven from any suitable source of power not shown and mounted in bearings 18, 18' on the frame F. It will be apparent that upon rotation of the power shaft 17 and cam disc 16 the connecting rod will be moved intermittently which in turn will rock the pawl or dog about the shaft 1 and cause the shaft 1 to be rotated by an intermittent movement, each tooth in the ratchet corresponding to a step in such intermittent movement. It is desirable to prevent any excessive or slipping movement of the said shaft 1, and for this purpose we mount,

' in cooperation with the pawl, a' braking device comprising a disc or wheel 19 fixed on the same shaft 1 which is braked by a braking so as to stop any excessive or slipping movement of the ratchet wheel and shaft.

The feeding mol en-ism The movement of the chains and sectional plate carriers about an arcuate guide such as the sprockets S, S' at the lower ends, causes the opening-up or spacing of the plate carriers 8 and we provide just below the beginning of the ascending stretch of the chain, a

feeding mechanism.

-' tional plate-carriers 8, thus permitting a plate This feeding mechanism may be driven from any suitable source of power and, as illustrated, comprises a series of three bracket arms 30 each mounted'at one endadj acent, to the outer end of the plate carriers and having its free end extendingor projecting inwardly into the spaces or channels 8* between the sec- P to be moved thereon into the path of the plate carriers and into the normal elevating position of Such plates on the carriers, thus to avoid any shifting of the plates after en-.

' gagement thereof bythe said sectional plate carriers 8.

It will be seen that the projection of these feeding arms into the channels between the sections of the plate carriers, in effect; produce an interlacing relationship therebe tween; that the arms lie in planes parallel with the plate carrier sections and extend u into juxtaposition with each other. As illustrated, the plates are fed on to the carriers by supporting the same upona series of belts 31 mounted on suitable pulleys (not shown) at one end, at. the opposite end upon pulleys 32 fixed on a shaft 33 journalled in bearing brackets 34 on the side of a frame and when the plate is carried forwardly, the under surface thereof isengaged by belts 35 supported at one end upon pulleys 36 also fixed upon the shaft 33 and supported at their opposite ends upon pulleys 30 mounted on stub shafts 30 at free ends of the bell-crank-arms 30 which are rigidly supported upon rods 37 and 38 so as to hold the outer pulley-supporting free end of the arm firmly in position within the spaces or channels between said plate-carrie'r sections.

From the above, it will be obvious thata plate fed to the outer. belts will be carried into thepath of the plate-carriers just before the closing up for the ascending stretch thereof; that the plate will thus be supported in substantially horizontal position so that wet paint or a coatingof any kind may be dried I without any marring thereof by engagement of the plate-carriers with theupper wet face thereof and without any. running of the paint or other material.

i v The transfer mechanism It is desirable not only to carry the plates in horizontal position on the ascending stretch, but also to carry such plates on the ownward or descending stretch of this chain with the same surface of the plate uppermost as-it is apparent that if a plate were allowed to turn or swing around with the chain and plate carriers, they would first be turned edgewise and then turned over and to avoid this and to continue the drying on the downward stretch, we provide at theupper end of the conveyor mechanism a transfei' mecha- 1 nism forshifting the plate from theupper end "of the ascending stretch to the beginning of the descending stretch and this shifting is accomplished between theend and beginning respectively of these stretches and the turning portion of the chains. I

In order to provide space'for the operation of the shifting mechanism we preferably cause the chains at the upper end to be first guided in a sharp curve between the vertieally-disposed ascending portion and the beginning of the arcuate portion and we also provide a slmllar sharp guiding curve between said arcuate portion and the beginning of-the descending stretch, thus-causing an enlargement of the normal spacing or separation between the plate carriers tofacilitate the shifting of a plate edgewise or horizontally from the end of the ascending stretch to the beginning of the descending stretch.

The magnetic rollers In the preferred embodiment shown, this shifting is accomplished by mounting at the upper end of the conveyor-between the ascend ing and descending stretches of chain and carriers of self-attaching or self-attracting means, preferably comprising magnetic rollshafts, sprockets 42 which are commonly or mutually engaged by a sprocket chain 43 which is driven from a shaft 44 having a sprocket 45 fixed thereon, over which the opposite end of the chain 43 passes. This shaft 44 has a sprocket 46 fast thereon and is in turn, driven through the chain 47 and sprocket 48 on .a shaft 49 which is geared or connected by a series of sprockets and chains with a drive-shaft 50 at the delivery end of the machine.

I11 said preferred form illustrated, a nonmagnetic roller 1' is preferably mounted between the two magnetic rollers and, as shown, is so mounted between the magnetic rollers on a shaft 51 supported in a bearing bracket 52, 52' and is rotated by engagement of a sprocket 53 with the actuating chain for the magnetic roller. Each roller is provided with annular collars 54 having peripheral surfaces 55 which are magnetized by windings or cdils. 56. Electric energy is supplied to said rollers R by providing at one end thereof an insulated circular track 57 with which a contact brush 58 is supported in a holder 59' connected to the track casting T. The brushes 58 are connected by wires 60 to one pole of the generator, and the magnetic windings or coils 56 of the rollers are suitably grounded on the shaft "WlllCh'lS connected, as represented in the diagrammatic view in Fig. 11 by the line 40 and which is in turn connected to the ground wire 40 of the generator. v The magnetic rollers, as shown, are each provided with a series of magnetic collars having peripheral contact surfaces and a series of coils are arranged between and electrically connected with such collars. It will be obvious, therefore, that when these magnetic metal plate and that when the roller is, during such magnetic attraction, rotated, as

aforesaid, it will cause the plate to be shifted edgewise laterally; that contact of the edge of the plate with one of the rollers will thus cause an edgewise shifting over that roller and into contact-with the second roller which will continue to shift the same edgewise or laterally on to a plate carrier on the descending stretch of the conveyor chain.

In a shifting device of this type, we find that the momentum of a plate during movement over the rollers causes it to-be shifted or slid beyond the surface of the last roller and on the plate carriers on the descending stretch of the conveyor chains.

In the said preferred embodiment, we preferably provide a series of buffer bars preferably comprising two spring buiferbars 61,

61 mounted upon the bracket bar 62 supported upon cross bars 63, 63 forming a portion of the upper end of the machine, and between these two buffer bars 61, 61 we preferably provide'another flexible spring buffer bar 64 connected at opposite. ends in an inclined position on a similar bracket bar 64 also supported upon said cross bar.

()ur preferred mean'sfor initially shifting the plate intc engagement with the magnetic vrollers comprises a series of bracket arms 7 0 (see Fig. 3) extending within the spaces 8 between the sectional plate carriers 8 which arms are securely fastened at'the outer ends at two points on the bars 71 and 7 2 mounted adjacent to the outer end of the plate-car- 'riers in brackets 73 and 74 fastened to the cross bar 63 and have sprockets on stub shafts 7 0 at the free ends which extend to a point adjacentto the rollers R. The brackets have ournalled at opposite ends thereof two shafts 7 5 and 76. On the shaft 7 5 are journalled sprockets 77 each having mounted thereon one end of a chain 78, the opposite end of which passes over a sprocket 7 0 Each chain preferably is provided with a tooth or projection 79 adapted in each revolution to engage the side edge of the plate and to move or slide it edgewi se into contact with the magnetic rollers. The said shaft 75 is driven continuously and timed by a connection to the shaft 80. As shown, the shaft 75 is provided with a sprocket 75 meshing .with a chain 7 5 which engages a sprocket 80 on the shaft 80 which is geared by gears 80*, 80 to the shaft 44 from which the magnetic gears are rotated and which in turn is conne'cted to the power shaft at the delivery side of the machine,

In order to enable'engagement of the tooth 79 with each of the plates to cause a shifting thereof, it is desirable to hold a plate holder in a predeterminedposition, and for this purpose we provide a series of arms 81 preferably comprising one for each plate sectlon and eachv provided at its free end with an en-- gagingnotch 81 adapted to be swung laterally and intermittently into engagement with the sectional plate holders 8 as the same approach the position at the end of the ascending stretch. As illustrated, these arms are oscillated to engage and disengage the plate holders by mounting such arms on the shaft 7 6 which'is journalled in bearing brackets 74 and said shaft is provided at its outer end with a crank 82 which is connected to a vertical rod 83 extending downwardly and has a bifurcated lower end 83 which straddles the drive shaft 17 and is rocked up and down by engagement of a roller 83 carried on a stub shaft 83 near the lower end of. the rod 83 with a cam 84 fixed on said drive shaft 17. The rod 83 is thus rocked so as to intermittently oscillate thearms 81 into and out ofengagement with the sectional plate holders 8*.

The plates P after being shifted to the descending stretch or plight of plate-carriers,

78*. These delivery belts are supported upon are carried downwardly until they engage and are supported upon delivery belts 90' similarly extendingwithin the channels or spaces 8 between the sectional plate holders bell-crank bracket arms -91 mounted at the outer edge of the machine on rods 92 and 93.

The inner ends of the delivery belts 90 are each mounted upon a pulley 94 journalled upon a stub shaft 95 supported on the bracket arm 91 while the opposite outer end is mounted on pulleys 96, on a drive shaft 50 mounted in bearings98 at opposite side edges of the frame casting F of the machine. On this shaft 50 is also supported transfer pulleys 98 having, chains 99 for'movement of the plates outside of the machine, which chain is preferably provided with projections for engaging the edges of the plate and in the 33 at the feeding side of the machine for the purpose of rotating the feed belts31 which have heretofore been described. 1

"Said shaft 50 also has mounted thereon a sprocket 106which through the chain 107 drives asprocket 108 on a stub shaft 109 on which shaft is mounted sprocket 110 driv,-

ing through a chain 111 passing over a stub shaft is mountedthesprocket 48 which rollers and other devices hereinabove specified are driven.

The automatic stopping mechanism We preferably provide means for automatically stopping the machine in the event of the fouling or displacement of a plate during the transfer or shifting thereof or in the event of the shifting means failing to-operate.

F or this purpose, we preferably mount over the magnetic rollers B a movable guard plate 120 preferably pivoted at one end by pivot- 121 in bearings 122 suitably supported on the bearing bracket for the magnetic roller and being free at its opposite ends 120 so as to be engaged and moved in the event of the failure of the transfer or shifting mechanism to operate and thus to cause the plate-carriers to move a plate into engagement therewith or in case any other part of the mechanism fails to properly move a plate in proper position. When the end 120 of the V guard plate is so. engaged by oneof the plates P to be dried,,it will be lifted and will engage a spring-pressed roller 123 which is mounted upon a pin 124 movable wertically in a bracket 125 and the end of this pin 124 upon movement thereof will compressthe spring 126 and will engagepne of-the contacts of a switch. 127 which will close the circuit-and energize a magnet 128-(see Figs. 10 and 11) the armature 129 of which is pivotally mount- A ed on a pivot 130 and has at its end a cushioning device comprising a plunger bar 131 hav-' 'ing a spring 132 abutting between a base 133 on the armature and a pin 134 through the shank thereof. When so energized,'the pivoted armature will be rocked about its pivot and an extension 135 thereof at the opposite side of the pivot will be caused to engage the dog or pawl 10 to lift the same out of engagement with the ratchet wheel'9 so as to prevent further intermittent rotation. The extension 135 will be held in elevated position'with the dog 10 out of engagement by means of a spring-pressed arm 136 pivoted at 136 on the magnet 128 and having a notch 136 adapted to engage a projection or pin 137 on said ex-' tension 135. The armature 129 is normally heldin elevated position by means of a spring 138 stretched between said extension 135 and a projection 139 on the core of a magnet. The cushioning plunger 131 on the armature provides a flexible 'means for disengaging the dog so that the operation of the stopping magnet which is likely to happen at any time will in the event of being unable to release the dog because of its engaging position, will tension the spring 132 which will thus release the a said dog so soon as it reaches a position when it can be released. It will be understood that sprocket 112 on the" stub shaft 49 on Wl11Cl1..

the dog when in engagement with-the ratchet and in its operating movement, cannot be lifted, andin order to free the ratchet from the pawl it is necessary to wait until the pawl starts on its return movement. "If, therefore, a place is being fouled while the pawl is so engaged, the magnet will be energized and the armature will be operated to store the power in the spring)132 which will thereafter lift the dog so soon as it starts on its backward movement. i

Suitable horizontally-disposed guide means are provided at the opposite sides of the delivery belts for moving the plates into position on the plate-carriers, and for this purpose we mount curved feed plates 140 at opposite sides of such belts.

We also preferably provide vertical buffer or guide bars 141 at opposite sides of the ascending flight of the carriers for the purpose of maintaining the same in sidewise alignment. As illustrated, we also provide two pairs of vertical guide bars 142 for the inner edges of the plate in case of displacement toward the conveyor chain and magnetic rollers, one pair being arranged to guide plates on the ascending stretch and the other pair to guide on the descending stretch. These bars 142, as illustrated, are mounted at their lower ends on projecting lugs 142 fastened to cross bars 143 which are connected at their opposite ends to angle frame bars.- The upper ends of the pairs of guide bars 142 preferably rest upon or are arranged closely adjacent to the peripheries of the magnetic rollers so as to act as guards against contact of the edges of the plate therewith before reaching the upper end of ,the flight.

Having described our claim 1. Apparatus for dryin wet plates embodying I elevating mec anism suitably mounted and driven and having ascending and descending portions, elongated platesupporting carriers having permanent connections at the edge at one side thereof with sa1d elevating mechanism and being free at their opposite edges and carried with said elevating mechanism and through the entire cycle of movement of said elevatin mechanism, and means located below the free ends invention, we

. of said (plate carriers for shifting a supported plate e gewise into supporting contact with plate carriers on the descending portion of suchmechanism, to cause the same bottom surface of the plate to be again engaged and said plate to descend in a horizontal position with the same face uppermost. 2. Apparatus for drying wet plates emelevating mechanismsuitably mounted and driven and having ascending and descending portions, elongated platesupporting carriers having permanent connections at the edge at one side thereof with said elevating mechanism and being free at their opposite edges and carried with said elevating mechanism and through the entire cycle of movement of said elevating mechanism, means adjacent to the top of the direction from the free outer edge toward the said connection and into supporting contact with plate carriers on the descending portion of such mechanism, to cause the same bottom surface of the plate to be again engaged and said plate to descend in a horizontal position with the same face uppermost, means for delivering plates over said free edges 'to the said supporting carriers in substantially horizontal position, and means for discharging the plates over said free edges also in horizontal position.

3. Apparatus for drying wet plates embodying, in combination, a casing, having suitable means for providing a drying atmosphere therein, conveyor-chain mechanism mounted on s rockets to extend substantially in a vertical irection within said casing and having ascending and descending stretches, a series of elongated plate carriers, each connected with said chain mechanism at one edge and having its opposite end free and movable to extend horizontally on said ascending and descending stretches to'engage the bottom surfaces only of such plates and said late carriers being also movable radially o the axis of rotation of the sprockets at the upper end of said conveyor-chain mechanism, and means at the upper end of the ascending stretch and below the free ends of said plate carriers for causing a plate to be shifted endwise from the plate carrier on the ascending stretch in a direction toward the connection thereof with the conveyor-chain mechanism to a plate carrier on the descending stretch.

4. Apparatus for' drying wet plates em: bodying, in combination, a casing, conveyor chain mechanism mounted to extend vertical-- said chain and shifting means mounted con-.

tiguous to one of said carriers-for causing the plate to be shifted in the opening caused b said sharp bend from the ascending stretc to the opening caused by the'sharp bend in the descending stretch.

5. Apparatus for drying wet plates, em-

bodying, in combination, a casing having means for producing a drying atmosphere therein, conveyor-chain mechanism mounted in said casing to extend vertically and to. have vertically-disposed ascending and descending stretches and arcuate connecting.

portions at the lower and upper ends, elon gated plate carriers, each connected with sa1d chain mechanism at one edge and hav ng. its

opposite end free, means for feeding a plate to said plate carriers at the beginning of the vertically-disposed ascending stretch, means located below-the free ends of said plate carriers forshifting the plates at the end of the ascending gtfretch to the beginning of the descending-stretch, and delivery means. for

causing said plates to be discharged from the machine a't theT"-lower;end of the verticallydisposed portion'of th'e descending stretch.

. 6. Apparatus fondrying wet plates, embodying, in combination, a casing, a pair of conveyor chains mounted within said casing to extend verticallyand having an ascending stretch, sectional plate-carriers mounted on said conveyor chains and means extending be tween the sections of said plate-carriers for shifting a wet plate edgewise at the upper end of said ascending stretch.

7. Apparatus for drying wet plates, embodying, in combination, a casing, a pair of conveyor chains having ascending and descending stretches, sectional plate carriers mounted on said chain, andmeans extending between the sections of the plate-carriers at the upper end of said ascending stretch for shifting a wet plate edgewise into engagement with plate-carriers on the descending stretch of the chains with the same face of the plate uppermost.

8. Apparatus for drying wet plates, embodying, in combination, a casing, a pair of conveyor chains having ascendingand descending stretches, sectional plate-carriers mounted on said chain and means extending between the sections of the plate-carriers at the upper end of said ascending stretch for shifting a wet plate edgewise into engagement with a plate-carrier on the descending stretch of the chain with the same face uppermost, means for feeding a plate in horizontal position into engagement with the plate holders at the beginning of the ascending stretch and means for delivering and dis charging said plate from plate-carriers at the end of the descending stretch.

9. Apparatus for drying wet plates, embodying, in combination, a casing, a pair of conveyor chains mounted to extend and move vertically in said casing, sectional plate-carriers mounted on said conveyor chains, means extending between the sections of the plate carriers for causing a plate to be moved edgewise substantially in horizontal position at the beginning of the vertically-dlsposed ascending stretch thereof to cause the bottom of the plate to be engaged by a platecarrier during movement of such plate-carriers by the chain, means at the top of the ascending stretch also extending between the sections of the plate carriers for shifting said plates edgewise into engagement with platecarriers on the descending stretch of the chain and means also extending between the sections'of the plate carriers for delivering said plates at the end of said descending stretch in substantially. horizontal position.

l0.'Apparatus for drying wet plates embodying elevating mechanism suitably and driven to have intermittent movement and having ascending and descending stretches, elongated plate-supporting carriers having permanent connections at the edges at one side thereof with said elevating mechanism and being free at their opposite edges, said plate carriers being carried with said elevating mechanism through the entire cycle of movement thereof, and means located below the free ends of said plate carriers and movable synchronously with said elevating mechanism to shift a plate on said plate carriers from the ascending to the descending stretch of said mechanism during the stationary interval of said movement.

11. Apparatus for drying wet plates em bodying elevating mechanism suitably mounted and driven to have intermittent movement and having ascending and descending stretches, elongated plate-supp0rting carriers having permanent connections at the edges at one side thereof with said elevating mechanism and being free at their opposite edges, said plate carriers being carried with said elevating mechanism through the entire cycle of movement thereof, means located below the free ends of said plate carriers and movable synchronously with said elevating mechanism to shift a plate on said plate carriers from the ascending to the descending stretch of said mechanism during the stationary interval of said movement,

and means movable synchronously with said elevatingmechanism for feeding a plate to said plate carriers.

12. Apparatus for drying wet plates embodying elevating mechanism suitably mounted and driven to have intermittent movement and having ascending and descending stretches, v plate-carriers permanently mounted at one edge on said elevatlng mechanism and carried therewith through the cycle of movement thereof, shifting gmeans movable synchronously with the elevating mechanism to shift a plate from the ascending to the descending stretch of plate carriers during the stationary interval of said intermittent movement and delivery means also movable synchronously with said elevating mechanism for discharging a plate from said plate carriers during said interval.

13. Apparatus for drying wet plates embodying, in combination, a conveyor chain mountedto extend substantiallyfin a vertical direction and having substantially parallel ascending and descending stretches, a series of plate carriers connected at one edge to and carried by said chain through its complete cycle of movement and extending horizontally on said ascending and descending stretches to engage the bottoni surfaces only of wetplates, means for shifting a plate from the ascending stretch to the descending stretch comprising a plate-shifting device at the outer edge of the plate-carriers for initially shifting plates edgewise and a secondary plate shifting device arranged between the ascending and descending stretches for continuing said edgewise movement to cause the plate to seat on a plate-carrier on the descending stretch.

In Witness whereof, wehave signed dun names to the foregoing SPGQIfiCZLtlOIl.

CHARLES WAGNER. AUGUST HORMEL. 

